A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St John CHAPTER 2-3

8/13/2019 A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St John CHAPTER 2-3

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! $ 23. Here on$& an in 3+


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10. 0 .( G some of &o!.4 Cf. 3+or other instances of o'$i9!e forms of the persona$ prono!n a e p$eonastica$$& tore$atives *in repro !ction of a He'rew i iom-, cf. =+2, X .' 9+


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21. & ! 9%. @n this He'raism see note on 2+=.>rom the a'ove evi ence of iction an sti$$ more of i iom it is c$ear that 23 are

from the han of o!r a!thor. Certain wor s an e/pressions occ!r in them which o notrec!r in the remaining chapters, '!t this is !e to the nat!re of the s!':ect *cf. - or to the fact that the #etters in some form were written '& o!r a!thor $ong 'efore


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cases 'e faithf!$ !nto eath 1 as the& have 'een in the pastB 2 '!t of a !niversa$ mart&r omthere is not the s$ightest hint, tho!gh this e/pectation is ta!ght or imp$ie in the rest ofthe oo) *see 13+16-B nor is there a sing$e reference to a wor$ wi e persec!tion save in3+1 , tho!gh this is one of the chief themes of the Apoca$&pse.

Again, tho!gh this wor$ wi e persec!tion was to arise in connection with the

imperia$ c!$t of the Caesars as the rest of the oo) c$ear$& states, there is not a sing$ereference to this c!$t in the #etters+ at most there ma& 'e an a$$!sion to it in 3+1 .%oreover, so far as this persec!tion was conceive as invo$ving the mart&r om of a$$the faithf!$, as in 022, this conception is in irect conf$ict with 2+26, 3+11, where theCh!rches are represente as witnessing more or $ess faithf!$$& ti$$ the A vent. (n short,the e/pectation that the Ch!rch wo!$ s!rvive ti$$ the "econ A vent cannot 'e he$sim!$taneo!s$& with the e/pectation of a wor$ wi e persec!tion in which a$$ thefaithf!$ wo!$ s!ffer mart&r om. These two e/pectations are m!t!a$$& e/c$!siveB ansince the first is o'vio!s$& the origina$ teaching of o!r te/t, it fo$$ows that 3+1 is as!'se9!ent a ition.

Accor ing$& the present writer is of opinion that the iscor ant e$ements in the te/tcan 'est 'e e/p$aine '& the h&pothesis that o!r a!thor wrote these #etters at a m!chear$ier ate than the oo) as a who$e, 'efore the f!n amenta$ antagonism of the Ch!rchan the "tate came to 'e rea$i e , an Christians ha to choose 'etween the c$aims ofChrist an Caesarism, of Christianit& an the "tate. Ihen he p!t together his visions inthe reign of Jomitian, he re e ite these #etters '& the insertion of 3+1 an thea ition of new materia$ at the c$ose of each #etter, which in some egree 'ro!ght theminto harmon& with the rest of the oo).

6. Amongst the additions to the original Letters are the endings and in part thebeginnings of the Letters in their present form

Ie have a$rea & recogni e that 3+1 is a $ater a ition ma e '& o!r a!thor. !t wecannot stop here. The en ings of the #etters are in ee from o!r a!thorLs han , 1, '!t

1 Special visitations are threatened ( "#/ , 2:5, 1 ! unless the "hurches o#

$phesus and %ergamum #orthwith repent, while to the "hurch o# Sm&rna 'a

tri ulation o# ten da&s,) issuing in the mart&rdom o# certain o# its mem ers, is

#oretold, 2:11* in +:1 chastisement ut not mart&rdom is #oretold.

2 The "hurches have alread& su##ered persecution in a limited degree. Thus the

"hurch o# $phesus is praised #or its #aith#ulness therein: c#. 2:+, ,

"# , .0 F @ , 9 /. Li-e wise Th&atira: c#.2:1 , and that o# %hiladelphia, +: * while that o# %ergamum has alread& its

proto/mart&r 0ntipas, 2:1+. n Sm&rna and %hiladelphia the "hristians had

su##ered at the hands o# the ews, 2: , +: .

1 The choice o# these endings on the part o# our author ma& in some cases e

determined & the diction or thought o# the respective letters o# which the& #orm

the close. Thus in the Letter to Sm&rna, 9 ': . $ 8 ,

2:11, declares the reward o# him who is 4# , 2:13* in the Letterto %ergamum, & ! 9% $ , 2:14, sets #orth the true #ood in contrast to


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the& wo!$ in man& respects 'e incomprehensi'$e '!t for the $ater chapters, to which intho!ght an iction the& are most intimate$& re$ate , an apart from which the& wo!$

'e a$$ '!t inscr!ta'$e enigmas+ cf. 2+=22+2, 10 * () * +!*-B 2+1121+5 *where ) is first e/p$aine -B 2+1=1


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Apoca$&pse the& were re e ite '& him in or er to a apt them to the impen ing crisis, '& changes ma e in the 'eginnings to 'ring them into c$oser conformit& with 1+1015,an '& a itions s!ch as 3+1 an others at the c$ose of the #etters, as 2+=, 11, 1=, 27 2


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ten e more an more to 'ecome a mere too$ of the (mperia$ ?overnment. Ephes!s wasthe Iestern termin!s of the great s&stem of Roman roa s8the great tra e ro!te fromthe E!phrates '& wa& of Co$ossae an #ao icea, a secon from ?a$atia via "ar is, whi$ea thir came !p from the so!th from the %aean er va$$e&. >rom its evotion to Artemis,Ephes!s appropriate to itse$f the tit$e Temp$e Iar en * ! , Acts 1aith in the East. Hence it is right$& name first in 1+11, 2+1. (t was the homeof "t. ohn in the $atter part of the cent!r&B an tra ition states that not on$& wereTimoth& an ohn, '!t a$so the Nirgin %ar&, '!rie at Ephes!s. ! ai ing an ?nosticteachers ear$& showe themse$ves active, as we ma& infer from 1 Tim. 1+= * -, 0+13, etc., an (gnati!s, Ad 'phes . vii. 1, A& E '% @ 1O 4 F ( $] ^ 3C '/ ./] A , F ) O *O ^ 31 @ ). The presence of s!ch e$ements testifie to the

anger of schism. "ee the artic$es on Ephes!s in Hastings D.(. , an the 'ncyc. (ib . with

the $iterat!re there 9!ote . . This c$a!se occ!rs eight times in the ;.T., seven of these 'eing in 2 an3 of o!r oo). 6 occ!rs on$& twice e$sewhere in the ;.T. This sparing !se has 'eeno'serve a$so in the _. B RF . : (/? 9 $. This c$a!se has no organic

connection with the $etter to the Ch!rch in Ephes!s, an , moreover, it is repeate in 3+1in a s$ight$& ifferent form. The !se of , which here means to ho$ fast, whi$e in1+17, 3+1 we have "#! , is strange. (n the case of the "on of %an "#! e/presses a$$that is nee e . His character is a g!arantee that the "#! contains the . (f it werea man that was in 9!estion here, the !se of *cf. 2+13, =+1, to $a& ho$ of,4 2 +2,an 2+10, 16, 26+, 3+11 where 'oth wor s occ!r- wo!$ 'e inte$$igi'$e. . E 8 R # 8 # . ChristLs vigi$ance is not

$oca$i e '!t coe/tensive with the entire Ch!rch. The i ea of the # ret!rns in2+6, which ma& have occasione the choice of the a'ove tit$e. That the former of thesetwo ivine tit$es was a e '& o!r a!thor when e iting his visions as a who$e, see p. 26s9., 06 s9.

1 The temple dedicated to 0ugustus some time e#ore 5 7 ." . did not entitle the

cit& to the Neocorate* #or it was not an independent #oundation, eing uilt

within the precincts o# the temple o# 0rtemis* and it was a dedication & the

municipalit& merel&, and not & the S&nod o# 0sia ( U /!.8 .B. 9astings Dictionary of the Bible .


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23. These two verses appear to consist of three co!p$ets.2. F " O , ,

, 6 9 )M 0 ),, ./ B R B , 9 A /O , 7 9 B .

3. , "# , .0 F @ , 9 /.

Here the theme is F " . These consist of , .These two s!'or inate themes are then rehan $e , the in 2'c an the in 3a'. There are two paronomasias which cannot 'e acci enta$+ an 9/, an 9 )M 0 an .0 .

2. The phrase F " rec!rs, '!t with the prono!n prece ing the no!n, in2+1


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B R B , 9 A /. The 9 A / is here aHe'raism for 9 @. *"ee note on 1+6'7, p. 10 s9.- . These persons have 'een i entifie + *1- with the ! ai ers sent from

er!sa$em *so "pitta-+ cf. 2 Cor. 11+13 s9.+ *2- with the iscip$es of "t. Pa!$ or even "t.Pa!$ himse$f *No$)mar, NO$ter, Ho$t mann 3 *with reservations--B *3- with the

;ico$aitans in 7 * o!sset-. Accor ing to this view, 7 res!mes 2. This e/p$anationappears to 'e the 'est of the three. (t a$so right$& ifferentiates the " in 2 * i.e. thevigoro!s action against the fa$se teacher an the en !rance !n er aff$iction- from the " in 6, which are i entica$ with the ' &', or 'rother$& $ove,in 0. The Ch!rch in Ephes!s sti$$ hates, 7, the evi$ mem'ers, the fa$se apost$es which itha trie an re:ecte .

3. This verse ret!rns to the positive e$ement in the praise given in 2+ it e/p$ains , an refers to in 9 /, tho! hast not grown wear&.4Here we have "# , .0 :!st as in the prece ing verse, )M ,/ . (n 'oth cases an ethica$ characteristic is 'ro!ght forwar which ha

manifeste itse$f in some act of the imme iate past.4. !t, tho!gh the Ch!rch in Ephes!s has preserve its mora$ an octrina$ p!rit&an maintaine an !nwavering $o&a$t& in tria$, it has $ost the warm $ove which it ha atthe 'eginning. The $ove here referre to is 'rother$& $ove+ cf. 1


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, ! #/ . $ 9*."# / 8 Cf. 2+17. The ative here ma& 'e the dativus incommodi, or an

incorrect ren ering of as in %att. 21+6 *so , $ass, *ram . 113- "#/ refershere as in 2+17 to a specia$ visitation or coming, tho!gh reference to the fina$ :! gmentis not e/c$! e . "# is practica$$& !se as e9!iva$ent to .) thro!gho!t theApoca$&pse.

! #/ , i.e. th& Ch!rch. That the Ephesian Ch!rch pai hee tothis warning for the time 'eing we $earn from the Pro$og!e to (gnati!sL Epist$e toEphes!s, where he ca$$s it ( + an in 1+1, where he ec$ares, ', @$O +! . Y $O " '/ . Again in11+2 he e/presses the wish that he ma& 'e fo!n in the compan& of those Christians ofEphes!s who, moreover, were ever of one min with the apost$es in the power ofChrist.4 That the threat in o!r te/t imp$ies not egra ation nor remova$ of the Ch!rch toanother p$ace, '!t estr!ction, seems o'vio!s. et Ramsa& * Letters , 203 s99.- is ofopinion that the threat is so e/presse as to mean on$& a change in $oca$ position, an

s!pports this interpretation '& the statement that Ephes!s has a$wa&s remaine thetit!$ar hea of the Asian Ch!rch, an the ishop of Ephes!s sti$$ 'ears that ignit&,tho!gh he no $onger resi es at Ephes!s '!t at %agnesia ad Sipylum .4 ;othing nowremains on the site of Ephes!s * i.e. A&asa$!) G I - save a rai$wa& stationan a few h!ts.

6. The "eer mo ifies the severe criticism in 06 '& 'ringing forwar the re eemingcharacteristic in the Ephesian Ch!rch, that the& hate the ee s which Christ a$so hate .

F " c d. These ;ico$aitans have 'een i entifie from the time of(renae!s *i. 27, 3, iii. 11. 1- an Hippo$&t!s * hilos . vii. 37-, who was epen ent on(renae!s, with the fo$$owers of ;ico$a!s the prose$&te of Antioch *Acts 7+6-. Tert!$$ianspea)s apparent$& of a secon sect * raesc. -aer . 33, Adv. +arc . i. 2


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c$oses it on the $ast fo!r. Here the spea)er t!rns from the in ivi !a$ Ch!rch to the who$eChristian comm!nit&. "ince the oo) as a who$e was written to 'e rea in p!'$icworship, s!ch a $arger reference was conceiva'$e in an for itse$f.

This c$a!se, which occ!rs seven times,8once in each #etter,8seems to have 'eena e '& the "eer when he incorporate the "even #etters in an e ition of his visions.

The seven eschato$ogica$ promises, 2+=', 11', 1=', 272=, 3+6, 12, 21, appear to have 'een a e at the same time. "!ch a phrase as 3 D .' / in 2+23 is no evi enceto the contrar&.

$. Cf. the c$osing wor s of a$$ the #ettersB a$so 10+13, 1or the occ!rrence of this i iom e$sewhere in the ;.T., see

ohn 7+3


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- . , "+' . These wor s a$so go 'ac) to 1+1= s9., ,.' O , AB + A, A $ A A&!. Compare the

emonic caricat!re in the case of the Antichrist+ 13+10, - "# ' *#/' , "+' . The wor "+' refers to ChristLs res!rrection+ cf. Rom. 10+rom otherso!rces we )now of their hosti$it& to the Christians. !stin * Dial . /vi. 11, /$vii. 16, /cvi.6, etc.- charges the ews genera$$& with c!rsing in their s&nagog!es those that 'e$ieveon ChristB an Tert!$$ian with instigating the persec!tion of the Christians * Scorp . 1 ,

"&nagogas ! aeor!m, fontes persec!tion!m4-+ cf. E!se'. -.' . v. 17. An thishosti$it& was no o!'t aggravate '& the accession of converts from ! aism toChristianit&, a fact which is atteste in (gnati!s * Ad Smyrn . i. 2, A B L/ , B 9$O H . N/ H . " -. (n the mart&r om of Po$&carp thisenmit& of the ews was e/hi'ite in an a$most incre i'$e egreeB for the& :oine *12+2-with the pagans in acc!sing Po$&carp of hosti$it& to the state religion , cr&ing o!t with

!ngoverna'$e wrath an with a $o! sho!t+ This is the teacher of Asia, the father of theChristians, the p!$$er own of o!r go s, who teacheth n!m'ers not to sacrifice nor toworshipL4 * K! 'O B ! ) 'Q -.

These ews, moreover, :oine with the pagans in eman ing from the Asiarch anchief priest Phi$ip the eath of Po$&carp, an were especia$$& active *a$tho!gh it was the"a''ath a&- in co$$ecting tim'er an faggots with a view to '!rning Po$&carp a$ive* N/! )!O C " 9O A $ )!- *op. cit . /iii.1-. #ater in the Jecian persec!tion the ews too) a prominent part in the mart&r om ofPioni!s, which, too, too) p$ace on the "a''ath * Act. ion . 3-. (n o!r te/t the ews arecharge with '$aspheming Christ an His fo$$owers as the& ha one in the ear$iest a&s

of Pa!$Ls preaching in Asia %inor *Acts 13+06, D N i) 0 1'$-. !t the Christians are remin e that these ews


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are ews in name on$&8after the f$esh an not after the spirit+ cf. Rom. 2+25, 9 F . % 1E N . > . % % NO , /. ) 9 + ?a$. 7+16 s9. The tr!e ews are those who have 'e$ieve inChrist, an there'& won a $egitimate c$aim to the name an spirit!a$ privi$eges

'e$onging to the ews. The fact that o!r a!thor attaches a spirit!a$ significance of thehighest character to the name N shows that he is himse$f a ewish Christian. (ns!ch a connection the >o!rth Evange$ist wo!$ have !se the term N '/' *cf.1+0=-, whereas he represents the N. as specifica$$& an essentia$$& the opponentsof Christianit&. "ee Iestcott, )ohn , p. i/. s9.

, 9 A /. @n this He'raism for , 9 @! see note on 1+67.! $ 23. Cf. 3+


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that in wor)s of art the ?ree) eities were ver& fre9!ent$& represente with crowns of$ight or nim'!ses from the time of A$e/an er the ?reat, an that the nim'!ses in wor)sof ancient Christian art were erive from this so!rce. These crowns are nat!ra$$&associate with the '$esse when once these are conceive as c$othe in $ight+ cf. p. 153s99. The genitive * +!* is therefore, as o!sset s!ggests, pro'a'$& to 'e ta)en notepe/egetica$$& as the crown which consists in $ife,4 '!t as the crown which 'e$ongs tothe eterna$ $ife.4 As the tree of $ife *cf. 2+= note, 22+2, 10- is a s&m'o$ of the '$esseimmorta$it& in Christ, so the crown of $ife appears to s&m'o$i e its f!$$ cons!mmation.

11. "#! .' / . Cf. =a.11!. #i)e =', 1='c , 2725, 3+6, 12, 21, this, too, is pro'a'$& an e itoria$ a ition

of o!r a!thor. Here the a ition is !nhapp&, for it comes in the form of an anti c$ima/after the great promise in 1 e. 9 ':8 9 with the f!t!re or aorist constit!tes the most

efinite form of a negative assertion a'o!t the f!t!re4 * $ass, *ram . 2


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)ing was Atta$!s ( in 201 .C. The $ast of this &nast&8Atta$!s (((8'e9!eathe his)ing om, with the e/ception of Phr&gia %agna, to the Romans. At this ate this)ing om em'race a$$ the $an on this si e the Ta!r!s,4 an was constit!te , with thea'ove e/ception, as the Province of Asia '& the Romans, with Pergam!m as its officia$capita$. Pergam!m was fame for its great re$igio!s fo!n ations in hono!r of e!s

"oter.1

Athena ;i)ephoros, whose temp$e crowne the Acropo$is, Jion&sosQathegemon, an As)$epios "oter 2 @f these the c!$t of As)$epios was the most

istinctive an ce$e'rate . (t was the #o!r es of the Province of Asia, an the seat of afamo!s schoo$ of me icine. Th!s ?a$en * De "ompos. +ed . i/.- writes+ A& /

. % 0/E ] F . iE U 'O F . [1 E jO F . k1 U!, an Phi$ostrat!s * /ita Apollonii , iv. 30-, V K U / A iO =! A D $ (1/ K _' *'oth passages 9!ote '&Ietstein-+ %art i/. 1=., Pergameo eo.4

!t from the stan point of o!r a!thor the most important c!$t was that of the RomanEmperors, which was esta'$ishe in Pergam!m8as the chief cit& of the province8in2< .C., where a temp$e was e icate to A!g!st!s an Rome '& the Provincia$ "&no*_ U /-B1 cf. Tac. Ann . iv. 3=, where Ti'eri!s refers to the fo!n ing of thistemp$e to A!g!st!s an Rome '& Pergam!m. ;o s!ch fo!n ation was officia$$&recogni e in Asia !n$ess it was ma e '& the "&no with the conc!rrence of the Roman"enate. Th!s Pergam!m won the hono!r of the ;eocorate 'efore "m&rna, which i noto'tain it ti$$ 27 .C., an Ephes!s, which was not so hono!re ti$$ the reign of C$a! i!sor ;ero. A secon temp$e was '!i$t in Pergam!m in hono!r of Tra:an, an a thir inhono!r of "ever!s. The imperia$ c!$t ha th!s its centre at Pergam!mB an as theimperia$ c!$t was the )e&stone of the imperia$ po$ic&, Pergam!m s!mme !p in itse$fthe into$era'$e offence an horror that s!ch a c!$t, the o'servance of which wass&non&mo!s with $o&a$t& to empire, provo)e in the min of o!r a!thor. (t is here an

nowhere e$se that we are to fin the e/p$anation of the start$ing phrase, $23, in 13. ehin the cit& in the 1st cent. A.J . arose a h!ge conica$ hi$$, 1 feethigh, covere with heathen temp$es an a$tars, which in contrast to the mo!ntain of?o ,4 referre to in (sa. 10+13B E e). 25+10, 17, an ca$$e the throne of ?o 4 in 1Enoch 26+3, appeare to the "eer as the throne of "atan, since it was the home of man&i o$atro!s c!$ts, '!t a'ove a$$ of the imperia$ c!$t, which menace with annihi$ation thever& e/istence of the Ch!rch. >or ref!sa$ to ta)e part in this c!$t constit!te high treasonto the "tate. "ee Ramsa&, Letters to the Seven "hurches , 251 s99. "#! ; 1/ . Cf. 1+17. This tit$e is connecte with 17 that fo$$ows.

"ee p. 27.

1 ;an& scholars have sought to e6plain $ 23 & the gigantic altarerected on a huge plat#orm 33 #eet a ove the cit& to ther scholars have #ound in the phrase in the preceding note a re#erence to

the worship o# 0s-lepios, ecause the serpent ( i.e . Satan : c#. 12: ! was

universall& associated with him.

1 That the temple was actuall& the seat o# the imperial cult in the province is

proved & an inscription #rom ;&tilene: . ? % % % @ +E 9% * U / . iE (Auoted & 7ousset!.


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13. 6 $ 23. The reference in these wor s, as has 'een shownin the prece ing verse, is to the primac& of Pergam!m as the centre of the imperia$ c!$t,an as s!ch the centre of "atanLs )ing om in the East8in the Iest it was Rome itse$f+cf. 13+2, 17+1 . Here stoo the first temp$e erecte to A!g!st!s an RomeB an here

we$t the powerf!$ priesthoo evote to the imperia$ c!$tB an from Pergam!m it

sprea a$$ over Asia %inor. The Asiarch or chief civi$ a!thorit& is, as we see from the +artyrdom of olycarp , $i)ewise the chief priest of this c!$t.

@ . ;otwithstan ing a$$ these iffic!$ties tho! ho$ est fast %&name.4

9 T ! / . These wor s refer to some efinite persec!tionof which nothing is at present )nown. (n / the is the o':ective genitive, i.e.

faith in %e4+ cf. 10+12. (n 2+1or ear$&attempts to emen the te/t see critica$ notes in loc . U/ is an a''reviate form ofU/, as _ for _8 Cf. Hermas for Hermo or!s, #!cas for#!can!s. ;othing is rea$$& )nown 'e&on this reference of the mart&r Antipas. #atermart&rs in Pergam!m are )nown, as Carp!s, Pap&$!s an Agathoni)e *cf. E!se'. -.' .iv. 16-. 8 @n this so$ecism, which is rea$$& a He'raism, see note on 1+6. The

R .N. is right essentia$$& in 1=+7 in ren ering )! N' $ '& mart&rs of es!s.4 Thewor sho!$ 'e simi$ar$& trans$ate here. >or, since the "eer e/pects a$$ the faithf!$ to

sea$ their witness with their '$oo *13+16-, the wor in o!r te/t is a witnessfaithf!$ !nto eath, an therefore a mart&r. !t o!tsi e o!r a!thor this !se was notesta'$ishe ti$$ $ater, tho!gh the wa& was prepare for this !se '& Acts 22+2 , 21$ , an 1 Tim. 7+13B C$em. "or . 6. Tho!gh the technica$ istinction

'etween an ' * mart&r4 an confessor4- was not a'so$!te$& fi/eti$$ the Jecian persec!tion, &et, as #ightfoot *on C$em. "or . 6- o'serves, after themi $e of the secon cent!r& at a$$ events O , were !se a'so$!te$& tosignif& mart&r omB +artyr. olyc . 1< s9.B %e$ito in E!se'. -.' . iv. 27B Jion&s.Corinth. ib. ii. 26. "ti$$ even at this $ate ate the& contin!e to 'e !sesim!$taneo!s$& of other testimon& to 'e 'orne to the ?ospe$, short of eath+ e.g . '&Hegesipp!s, E!se'. -.' . iii. 2 , 32.4'8 The passive form of /!, which occ!rs ver& rare$& in the #FF

an on$& once o!tsi e the Apoca$&pse in the ;.T. * i.e . %ar) 5+31 G %att. 17+21 G #!)e

B Cords so enclosed are corrupt. The $ditor s restoration is occasionall& given

in the pop/up note.

C9 Cestcott and 9ort, The N.T. in Greek .

" " (v! paris. Sd. +. "ontains 1:1/+:1 , 5:1 /4:1 , 4:14/ :5, :1 /13:13, 11:+/

1 :+, 1 :2/1 :5.

D.E. Devised Eersion.LXX Septuagint.


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vio$ence to an& part of the te/t, whi$e it e/p$ains each mem'er of it in a nat!ra$ sensefrom the conte/t. The right interpretation of , ) $ea s to the right interpretation ofthe who$e. & fai$ing to recogni e this fact e/positors have erre in the past. Th!s

ohannes Ieiss is riven to mistrans$ate 16 as fo$$ows+ "o hast ! ort auch *K- so$che,we$che ie #ehre er ;i)o$aiten ha$ten g$eicherweise.4 The / 'e&on 9!estion

'e$ongs to the )8 o!sset represents the meaning of 1016 to 'e+ "o wie i$eam !rcha$a) ie (srae$iten verfShrte, so ha'en ie Pergamener ie ;ico$aiten a$s NerfShrer.4!t if an& s!ch comparison was inten e , we sho!$ have ha something $i)e V

nF ./ % nF 0 =! $ # cd0 .& 8 !t this interpretation fai$s, as it $eaves who$$& o!tof sight the efinitive phrase , )8 esi es, if, as some scho$ars s!ppose, theconstr!ction is irreg!$ar an the =! pres!pposes a prece ing V in this conte/t,then not n '!t D D, N wo!$ 'e the s!':ect with which , ) wo!$ 'ecompare + V D D, N # $ # n 8O =!"# , B $ . This wo!$ in itse$f give an e/ce$$ent sense. As the

ancient (srae$ ha corr!pt teachers, so too now has the Pergamene Ch!rch. !t then the present form of the te/t oes not a mit of this interpretation, an , moreover, the conte/tis against it. The , ) reca$$s the fact that not on$& is the Pergamene '!t a$so theEphesian Ch!rch tro!'$e '& corr!pt teachers.

The grammatica$ st! & of the te/t having th!s esta'$ishe the fact, that in 16 wehave at once 'oth an e/p$anation of 10 an a comparison with 2+7, serves f!rther tosett$e the re$ation of the a$aamites an the ;ico$aitans. The term a$aamites is simp$&a name given for the nonce '& o!r a!thor to the ;ico$aitans. The assignment of thisname rests on two gro!n s+ the first is the i entit& of res!$ts as regar s their teachingBthe secon is the i entit& in respect of meaning in the view of o!r a!thor as we$$ as ofcertain ewish writers of n an c *see note in 2+17-.

16. ' . The who$e Ch!rch of Pergam!m is ca$$e !pon to repent an p!rge itse$f from these ;ico$aitans, in the hope that the& wi$$ !$timate$& come to a 'ettermin an ret!rn to her *cf. 1 Cor. 6+06-, e$se Christ wi$$ visit the Ch!rch * "#/ -an ea$ rastica$$& with these corr!pt teachers * > 9-. The "eer re9!ires theCh!rch of Pergam!m to e/pe$ them, as the Ch!rch of Ephes!s ha a$rea & one. (t hasnot i entifie itse$f with them.

A Q . Here e9!iva$ent to A Q as in 2+6', where see note. A Q is a$wa&s e$$iptica$ in o!r a!thor.

! > 98 This constr!ction, which is fre9!ent in the #FF, isconfine to the Apoca$&pse *cf. 12+=, 13+0, 1=+10- in the ;.T. The ver' itse$f occ!rs

o!tsi e the Apoca$&pse on$& in as. 0+2. (n o!r te/t it cannot 'e treate as other than aHe'raism, if we ta)e into acco!nt the He'raistic character of the te/t in genera$. Thefact that it occ!rs spora ica$$& *see %o!$ton, roleg . 2 1 7-8twice or more8pin thePap&ri is no evi ence to the contrar&. "ee A ''ott, *ram ., p. 27=.

. : ; 1/? $ . Cf. 1+17, 2+12, 1


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the thir heaven * " # are the mi$$s which grin - manna for the righteo!s. Thismanna was ca$$e 'rea from heaven,4 E/. 17+0B corn of heaven,4 Ps. =5+20, an$i)ewise 'rea of the might&4 * i.e . ange$s, cf. Ps. =5+26-. (t is to this heaven$& manna,an not to the go$ en pot of manna which was preserve *E/. 17+3230- inremem'rance of the foo in the wi$ erness an which was in the ar) *He'. 9 " 9Q #O > I '


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am!$et engrave with some magica$ form!$a or name, s!ch as we fin in %a)). 11 a *cf."!))a, 63 a-+ Ihen Javi !g the cistern *at the so!th west corner of the a$tar- the

eep s!rge !p an so!ght to overwhe$m the wor$ . Then he as)e if he might inscri'ethe ivine name on a potsher an cast it into the eep to ca!se it to sin) 'ac) into its

p$ace.4 The va$!e of s!ch an am!$et was enhance if the ho$ er of it was ass!re that

the name was new, an so )nown on$& to himB for sho!$ an& one s!ccee in $earningthis name he too wo!$ en:o& the same powers as its possessor. Ie have now to as) ifo!r a!thor has ta)en over in their entiret& these i eas. Even if this is so, we ma& 'ecertain that the& have 'ecome spirit!a$$& transforme . The new name can on$& 'e that ofChrist or ?o inscri'e on a *18 The man himse$f ma& 'e regar e as the *1Ban since he is O as his victor& in the fina$ strife has prove , he is inscri'e withthe ivine name, 1 which has a ifferent meaning in character with the so!$ that receivesit, an therefore a new meaning to ever& faithf!$ so!$, an which none '!t it )nows *cf.%att. 11+2=-. This interpretation 'rings this passage somewhat into $ine with 2+12, ! .> 9 @ $ $ , @ 8 This inscription esignates him as ?o Ls own possession, as the 1/ in =+2 s99.*see note in loc. an para$$e$s-. !t the *1 with the ivine name inscri'e on it ma&

'e ifferent$& interprete , an ta)en to 'e a s&m'o$ of the transcen ent powers now p$ace in the han of him that has 'een faithf!$ !nto eath. Thro!gh s!ch faithf!$nessthe '$esse are fitte to receive from their ivine %aster fresh graces * i.e. the hi enmanna- an powers *the stone inscri'e with the ivine name- of a transcen entcharacter.

@ 8 "ee prece ing notes.- 9, A 0!8 As we have o'serve a'ove, the )now$e ge

that a faithf!$ heart possesses of ?o is a thing incomm!nica'$e, )nown on$& to itse$f.Cf. 1


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a geographica$ point of view, starting with Ephes!s an en ing with #ao icea. Th&atiraha temp$es e icate to Apo$$o T&rimnaios, Artemis, an a shrine of "am'athe * 20-, an @rienta$ "i'&$ in the neigh'o!rhoo B '!t it ha no temp$e fo!n e inhono!r of the Emperors. The Christian Ch!rch at Th&atira cease to e/ist towar s thec$ose of the 2n cent. A.J ., accor ing to a statement of the A$ogi. (t ear$& 'ecame a

centre of %ontanism *Epiphani!s, -aer . $i. 33-. "ee Ramsa&, Letters , an the i'$eJictionaries in loc . D $ $8 This tit$e ma& have 'een s!ggeste to o!r a!thor '& Ps. 2+=,

seeing that $ater in this $etter he 9!otes Ps. 2+< in its entiret& an a phrase from 2+5. !tthe tit$e is pres!ppose in 1+7, 2+2=, 3+6, 21, 10+1, where ?o is efinite$& spo)en of asthe >ather of Christ. ;owhere in o!r a!thor is ?o escri'e as >ather4 in re$ation tomen save in 21+=+ contrast ohn 2 +1=, etc. This tit$e was c$aime '& Christ *%att.11+2=B #!)e 1 +22-, ascri'e to Him '& Peter *%att. 17+17-, an forme the gro!n forthe in ictment 'ro!ght against Him 'efore the "anhe rin *%att. 27+73B ohn 1!rther, the "eer states that in thef!$fi$ment of s!ch wor)s the Ch!rch in Th&atira has stea i$& a vance , whereasEphes!s ha gone 'ac)war *2+0-. /! seems here to 'e !se as meaning greater in9!a$it&, 'etter+ cf. %att. 7+26, 12+01, 02B He'. 3+3, 11+0, etc. As "wete remar)s, inthese a resses praise is more $i'era$$& given, if it can 'e given with :!stice, when

'$ame is to fo$$owB more is sai of the goo ee s of the Ephesians an Th&atirians thanof those of the "m&rnaeans an Phi$a e$phians, with whom no fa!$t is fo!n .4 (n ' , / we have the two &namic Christian forces which iss!e in the twoChristian activities that fo$$ow / , 8

2023$. The angers which threatene Th&atira were interna$ rather than e/terna$. (twas not the c!$t of the Emperor nor the c!$ts of the pagan eities, the con ition ofmem'ership in which was confesse $& wi$$ingness to ta)e part in the worship prescri'ein each case, '!t the tra e g!i$ s that forme the pro'$em in Th&atira. (n the former casethere co!$ 'e no o!'t as to the wrongness of participation in s!ch c!$ts, '!t in thecase of the $atter the evi ence seeme to the more inte$$ect!a$ c$ass $ess conc$!sive. Tothe mora$$& so!n amongst this c$ass there co!$ 'e no ivergence of opinion as to thewrongness of fornication, '!t ifferent views were honest$& maintaine as to the$egitimac& of eating foo sacrifice to i o$s, seeing that in the e&es of the en$ightene ani o$ was nothing. ;ow, since mem'ership in tra e g!i$ s * . /O 0& O

/- i not essentially invo$ve an&thing 'e&on :oining in the common mea$,

which was e icate no o!'t to some pagan eit& '!t was e/act$& in this respectmeaning$ess for the en$ightene Christian, to avai$ onese$f of s!ch mem'ership was he$


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in certain $atit! inarian circ$es to 'e 9!ite :!stifia'$e. An this was partic!$ar$& the casein Th&atira, which, owing to the fact that it was a'ove a$$ things a cit& of commerce,a'o!n e in '!siness g!i$ s, to one or other of which ever& citi en a$$ '!t necessari$&

'e$onge + otherwise he co!$ har $& maintain his '!siness or en:o& the socia$a vantages nat!ra$ to his position. Th!s it was these tra e g!i$ s in Th&atira that ma e

the ;ico$aitan octrine so accepta'$e to the Ch!rch in this cit&, an that tho!gh thecommon mea$s of s!ch g!i$ s too often en e in !n'ri $e $icentio!sness. Against the

princip$es an con !ct of the ;ico$aitans the Ch!rch in Ephes!s ha open$& ec$areitse$f *2+7-B '!t no s!ch ec$aration ha as &et emanate from the Ch!rch in Th&atira.@wing to the '!siness an socia$ interests of its mem'ers it was too rea & to accept an&

princip$e that wo!$ :!stif& their mem'ership in the cit& g!i$ s. Hence it withhe$ itstestimon& against an inf$!entia$ woman who ha $ong *21- an notorio!s$& *23-a vocate the princip$es of the ;ico$aitans an &et en:o&e the mem'ership of theCh!rch.

However this person might c$oa) her activities !n er the no'$e name of prophetess,or a vance her teaching as a more en$ightene *?nosticK- Christianit&, the& were, the"eer ec$ares, simp$& sheer $icentio!sness an the negation of the $aws $ai own '& theAposto$ic Co!nci$. "he was a mo em e e'e$, an the Ch!rch of Th&atira in to$eratingher presence in the Ch!rch was no 'etter than a mo ern Aha'.

20. 18 Cf. ohn 12+= for this !se of 18 @n the form see $ass, *ram . 61BR o'ertson, *ram . 316.

N+08 e e'e$ is here !se s&m'o$ica$$& of some inf$!entia$woman in the Ch!rch in Th&atira, an chosen in reference to the wife of Aha', who wasg!i$t& of whore om an witchcraft *1 Qings 17+31B 2 Qings


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a$$ow of a f!$$ reformation of the evi$. The warning ma& have come from the "eerhimse$f. !t its so!rce cannot 'e etermine .

Y M8 The Y here has its fina$ force+ in


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character. >or them, therefore, there is nothing '!t the oom of estr!ction *23a-. (n thisinterpretation the ifference in the ooms threatene is who$& nat!ra$. . %. Cf. E e). 33+2=, E , where G

$! , pesti$ence,4 as here an in 7+5 *note-.& 3 D .' / . The oom of the offen ers was to 'e )nown

as wi e$& as the scan a$ ha 'een. The & 6 is an @.T. form of e/pression+ i.e.)now '& reason of e/perience, as in the case of the Eg&ptians, etc. Cf. E/. =+6, 10+12,2


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Ch!rch of Th&atira, as Iiese$er, "pitta, ahn, NO$ter * ffenb . iv. 177-, o!sset ass!me.These fa$se teachers he$ that the spirit!a$ man sho!$ )now the eep things of "atan,that he sho!$ ta)e part in the heathen $ife of the comm!nit&, two of the most prominentcharacteristics of which were its sacrificia$ feasts an immora$ practices. Tho!gh heo!twar $& share in this heathen $ife, neverthe$ess as a spirit!a$ man * i.e. the ?nostic of

$ater times- he remaine inwar $& !naffecte '& it an so asserte his s!periorit& over it.The insistence on the )now$e ge of intellectual m&steries, either as an in ispensa'$e

a ition to or as a s!'stit!te for simp$e o'e ience to the c$aims of the Christian $ife, hasa$wa&s 'een a wea)ness of the Ch!rch.

9 0! .1> 3 4 0 . (n themse$ves these wor s co!$ refer either to '!r ens of s!ffering or of the $aw. !t the conte/t ec$ares c$ear$& for the $atterB for theterm * in the fo$$owing verse can on$& refer to the o'$igations of the mora$ $aw,an these o'$igations in partic!$ar re$ate to fornication an the eating of meat offereto i o$s. ;ow these were the two chief enactments of the Aposto$ic ecree in Acts16+25, "( 'Q ./ 0 )! .O# A!)! , /. @n$& these two prohi'itions are ec$are to

'e o'$igator& on the mem'ers of the Ch!rch in Th&atira, which were entang$e in the$i'ertinism of the ;ico$aitans. The other two8 # Y , 8 arenot re enacte . !t this is not a$$. The !se of the wor 4 in itse$f points to thee/c$!sion of the two $atter. Th!s o!r a!thor ha c$ear$& the Aposto$ic ecree in hismin .

25. @nce an for a$$ ta)e a firm ho$ * - on these !ties inc!m'ent on &o!,an sh!n a'so$!te$& the sacrificia$ feasts of the heathen an the mora$ evi$s that attenon them.

- "# . Cf. 3+11, - "#8 J(! is to 'e ta)en as a s!':!nctive ofthe aorist J(! since 4# in o!r a!thor e$sewhere is fo$$owe '& the s!':!nctive+ cf. =+3,

16+5, 2 +3, 6. (n 1=+1= it is fo$$owe '& the in icativeB '!t o!r a!thor is here !sing aso!rce.26. , ' . The victor& is to him that )eeps ChristLs wor)s !nto

the en B in the present instance the specia$ wor)s re9!ire from the Ch!rch of Th&atira.!t the repetition of the artic$e e9!ates the two phrases. Hence we might trans$ate+ he

that overcometh8even he that )eepeth.4 The victor is he that )eeps ChristLs wor)s+ hethat )eeps ChristLs wor)s is the victor. & E 9% , the nominative res!me in a s!'se9!ent prono!n in the

ative.To this nominativus pendens or acc!sative we have an e/act para$$e$ in 3+12, 21. A

more norma$ constr!ction occ!rs in 2+=, 1=, an the norma$ in 7+0, 21+7.

& ! 9% .( / ., .. A free ren ering of Ps. 2+5, &" ' B #FF, & ! "' '/ . The tho!ght of these wor s aswe$$ as the iction of what fo$$ows are rawn from Ps. 2+5


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we have here no e/ception. !t


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genera$$& means to shepher ,4 it means sometimes to evastate,4 estor&,4 asin %ic. 6+6B er. 7+3, 2+17 *where the R .N. ren ers 'rea)4-, 22+22B Ps. 5 +10 *see

6ford -ebre# Le6 ., p.


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1. . 2 . "ar is *see the i'$e Jictionaries in loc .+ a$so Ramsa&, Letters ,3=6352- was sit!ate a'o!t 3 mi$es ".E.". of Th&atira. (n (onic its form was 2,in Attic 2, whi$e in $ater ?ree) it was written 2. "ar is was '!i$t on thenorthern confines of %t. Tmo$!s, an its acropo$is on a sp!r of this mo!ntain. (t

ominate the rich Herm!s va$$e&, an was the capita$ of the ancient #& ian )ing om. (treache the height of its prosperit& !n er Croes!s * circ . 67 .C.-. @n its con9!est '&C&r!s it 'ecame the seat of a Persian "atrap&, an its histor& for the ne/t three cent!riesis '!rie in o'sc!rit&. n er Roman r!$e it recovere some of its ancient importance,an 'ecame the centre of a conventus juridicus B '!t, notwithstan ing, no cit& in Asia

presente a more ep$ora'$e contrast of past sp$en o!r an present !nresting ec$ine. (n1= A.J . it was overthrown '& a severe earth9!a)e, '!t thro!gh the generosit& ofTi'eri!s *Tac. Ann . ii. 0=-, who remitte a$$ its ta/es for five &ears an contri'!te1 , , sesterces towar s its re'!i$ ing, it rose so rapi $& from its r!ins that in 27A.J . it was ca$$e a ' '& "tra'o *726-, an it conten e , tho!gh!ns!ccessf!$$&, with "m&rna for the privi$ege of raising a temp$e to Ti'eri!s *Tac. Ann .iv. 66-. (ts chief c!$t was that of C&'e$e, whi$e its stap$e in !stries were connecte withwoo$$en goo s, an it c$aime to have 'een the first comm!nit& which iscovere theart of &eing woo$. To these in !stries there is possi'$& a reference in 3+0, 6a. (tsinha'itants ha $ong 'een notorio!s for $!/!r& an $icentio!sness *Hero . 1+66B Aesch.

ers . 06-, an the Christian Ch!rch ha manifest$& a har tas) in resisting the evi$atmosphere that environe it. #i)e the cit& itse$f, the Ch!rch ha 'e$ie its ear$&

promise. (ts re$igio!s histor&, $i)e its civi$, 'e$onge to the past. An &et, espite itsmora$ an spirit!a$ ec$ension, it sti$$ possesse a n!c$e!s of faithf!$ mem'ers+ it ha afew names which ha not efi$e their garments.4 (t was not apparent$& tro!'$e '&

persec!tion from witho!t, or '& inte$$ect!a$ error from within, an &et it an the Ch!rchof #ao icea were the most '$ameworth& of the seven.

"#! F RF ) $ $ , B RF . This c$a!se is *see p. 27-, as the correspon ing ivine tit$es of Christ in the other si/ #etters, to 'e regar eas a re actiona$ a ition of o!r "eer when he e ite his visions as a who$e. The phraseF RF ) has a$rea & occ!rre in 1+0, '!t there it is a manifest interpo$ation.Hence it rea$$& occ!rs here for the first time. @n its pro'a'$e meaning see 1+0, note.

F ". @n this vernac!$ar genitive *contrast 2+2- see notes on 2+or the constr!ction cf. Hero . vii. 135,P #O C .> U .)O / Q R 3 8 s. Contrast 2 Cor.7+ R, an 2 Tim. 3+6, "# 1! 9 0/ Q )9* T'. The con emnation of the Ch!rch of "ar is is more severe than that ofthe other si/ Ch!rches. An &et it, too, has a n!c$e!s of faithf!$ mem'ers.

2. / ' . >or this constr!ction cf. 17+1 , . . !' . ' is a wor of o!r "eerLs *cf. 17+16-, an , tho!gh fo!n in the three "&noptic?ospe$s, is not !se in the >o!rth. @!r te/t reca$$s %att. 20+02 *%ar) 13+33-, ' O 6 9 H /? K? ) "#. There are ver& c$ose

0 ott, 0 ott, Johannine Grammar , 1 3 . 0 0 (v! London. Sd. .


32/48


33/48

wo!$ restore in 'efore the a'ove wor s, whi$e e a transferre it 'efore 3+15. The firsts!ggestion is pro'a'$& to 'e preferre . (t might, of co!rse, 'e o':ecte that the repetitionafter AB "# C ' of J(! C ' wo!$ 'e :e:!ne. !t the $atter seemsmore efinite. An &et in 2+6, 17, A Q O "#, the present "# appears to 'e!se !n er e/act$& the same con itions as J(! C ' here. !t it is pro'a'$e thatin the c$a!se AB "# C ' we have a genera$ escription of the nat!re ofChristLs A vent. (t is to 'e !ne/pecte , whereas in the c$a!se J(! C ' there is a

efinite menace, in which it is imp$ie that the Ch!rch of "ar is wi$$ 'e ca!ght off theirg!ar '& the s! enness of ChristLs A vent. Hence, tho!gh with some hesitation, ( haverestore 17+16 'efore 3+3c.

16:15. A B "# C '8 ' , ' F D 9 $,Y :,, 0! #' )' 9 $.

3:3'. .F ' M,

J(! C ' ,, 9 % / V J(! ., .

.F ' M J(! C ' . An o'vio!s echo of %att. 20+03s9. * G #!)e 12+3< s9., cf. %ar) 13+36-. A t A ' /? 1: '"# .'' 4 / 5O 6 u 9 V?O D $& "#. The "econ A vent is referre to in o!r te/t+ it wi$$ come as a thiefin the night, 'eca!se the& are not on the watchB cf. 1 Thess. 6+2, 0.

9 %. The s!':!nctive fo$$ows 9 witho!t e/ception in o!r a!thor, an a$$ '!t !niversa$$& in the rest of the ;.T. (n I H te/t 9 occ!rs or V in the acc. when apparent$& referring not to the !ration '!tto a point of time, cf. %o!$ton, *ram .2 p. 73. $ass, *ram .


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> . $ . . Ie have here the first eschato$ogica$ promise, which is not prece e '& the wor s . The raiment here spo)en of is theheaven$& raiment or the spirit!a$ 'o ies awaiting the faithf!$ in the ne/t $ife. "ee note onte/t verse.

4( / A . Contrast the !se of this phrase in 17+7.5. "ee note on 2+11'.0 .. 0 ta)es two constr!ctions in o!r a!thor. (t is

fo$$owe either '& . with the at. as here an in 0+0, or '& the acc. in the remaining passages.

. D/ . These garments 1 are the spirit!a$ 'o ies in which the faithf!$are to 'e c$othe in the res!rrection $ife. This tho!ght is c$ear$& e/presse in 2 Cor. 6+1,0, (f the earth$& ho!se of o!r ta'ernac$e 'e isso$ve , we have a '!i$ ing from ?o , aho!se not ma e with han s, eterna$, in the heavens. >or in ee we that are in thista'ernac$e o groan, 'eing '!r ene B not that we wo!$ 'e !nc$othe , '!t that we wo!$

'e c$othe !pon.4 !t this i ea rec!rs e$sewhere in the ;.T., tho!gh it is not soefinite$& e/presse as here+ cf. %att. 13+03, D / . C J,

that is, the& sha$$ have a 'o & of $ight *cf. Ps. 1 0+2, who coverest th&se$f with $ight aswith a garment4-, 1 Cor. 16+03, 0


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p. 216B %o!$ton, )ournal of Theol. Stud . iii. 61062=. (n its present form 0 E ra 12 isChristian, '!t it is not impro'a'$& 'ase on ewish so!rces. However this ma& 'e, wehave, as in the Asc. (sa., references to this heaven$& 'o & of $ight. Cf. 2+3or interestingtho!gh on$& partia$ para$$e$s in ! aism an oroastrianism, see #!e)en, +ichael , 122s9. B O)$en, /er#andschaft d. j1disch$christlichen mit d. arsischen 'schatologie , 71 76.

To ret!rn now to o!r a!thor, it is c$ear that the white garments represent theres!rrection or heaven$& 'o ies of the faithf!$ in 3+0c, 6a, 7+11 *see note-, =+


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Asc. (sa. rom the wor s of o!r a!thor it is c$ear that its Christianit& was ofa high character, stan ing in point of merit secon on$& "m&rna among the sevenCh!rches. (n the time of (gnati!s * Ad hil . 3, 6, 1 - it en:o&e the same high rep!tation.Phi$a e$phia was fo!n e on the so!thern si e of the va$$e& of the Cogamis8a tri'!tar&of the Herm!s8'& Atta$!s ((. Phi$a e$ph!s, an name after its fo!n er *16


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ifferentiation of the wor s ' *not !se in o!r a!thor, '!t 10 times in the >o!rth?ospe$- an ' oes not ho$ + Ie ma& affirm of the ', that he f!$fi$s the

promise of his $ips, '!t the ', the wi er promise of his name. Ihatever thatname imports, ta)en in its highest, eepest, wi est sense, whatever accor ing to that heo!ght to 'e, that he is to the f!$$.4 This istinction is tr!e of the >o!rth ?ospe$, where

'oth wor s occ!r. "#! k/O /! , 9, / . The passage

points 'ac) to 1+15, '!t it is 'ase on (sa. 22+22, where V w with the %ass. rea , withreference to E$ia)im, & ! H k, ., $ g 9$O , /(, 9 " /! , / , 9 " /!. "ince 'oth an Area ifferent$&, o!r a!thor is apparent$& not !sing the #FF here. (n an& case, whi$e the#FF repro !ces the %ass., which here consists of para$$e$ c$a!ses, it is c$ear that o!ra!thor ea$s in epen ent$& with the te/t. The He'rew is fami$iar to him, an whatappears in (sa. 22+22 in the form of irect statements an finite ver's is cast '& o!ra!thor into a series of epen ent c$a!ses, which are intro !ce '& particip$es that ares!'se9!ent$& reso$ve into finite ver's, i.e. /! , 9, / , /!, 9, /. This is not ?ree), '!t a He'rew i iom often !se '& o!r a!thor,

.The e/pression k/ has apparent$& a %essianic significance. Cf. 6+6,

22+17, ;/+ k/. The wor s teach that to Christ 'e$ongs comp$ete a!thorit& in respectto a mission to or e/c$!sion from the cit& of Javi , the ;ew er!sa$em. The a missionreferre to ma& primari$& have to o with the ?enti$es an the e/c$!sion with the!n'e$ieving ews *see


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W 9, ) 9. @n this He'raism cf. =+2, o!rth ?ospe$ *A''ott, *ram . 136 s99.-, 1+6, 3+13, 1irst, it ma& 'e ren ere$itera$$&+ ( give men of the s&nagog!e as th& converts.4 @therwise is to 'eta)en He'raica$$&, ( ma)e * i.e. ( wi$$ ma)e- men of the s&nagog!e 'eho$ ( wi$$ma)e4 * !-. This $atter !se is fre9!ent in the #FF. (t is to 'e fo!n a$so in Acts1 +0 , 10+3 *2+2=, in a 9!otation from the #FF-. The com'ination AB is

eci e $& in favo!r of the $atter viewB for it is a p!re He'raism, , with af!t!re sense. Iith the constr!ction . * !* compare 2+1=, & ! $.

* !* $ 23. (n the #FF # is ren ere K !*$ / *;!m. 17+3, 2 +0 + cf. a$so 27+


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! Y cum fut . or subj . Cf. 13+12 *f!t.-, 17 *s!':. K- B ohn 11+3= *s!':.- B Co$.0+17 *s!':.-. The Y c$a!se is one of conse9!enceB cf. rom (sa. 03+0. , . Cf. 22+10, Y " , A ! .10. This verse is a re actiona$ a ition on the part of o!r "eer when he was e iting

his visions. (ts meaning is on$& e/p$ica'$e from a right !n erstan ing of vii+, where the100, are sea$e . There the faithf!$ are sea$e with a view to their preservation fromthe assa!$ts of emons, '!t are not there'& sec!re against ph&sica$ eath. This

persec!tion is not to 'e a mere$& $oca$ one *cf. 2+1 - + it is to em'race the entire wor$ .E$sewhere thro!gho!t the origina$ #etters to the "even Ch!rches there is not even anapprehension of a wor$ wi e persec!tion *see 6, p. 00 s9.-. The contin!e e/istenceof two of the Ch!rches is pres!ppose ti$$ the "econ A vent + cf. 2+26, 3+3 *K-, 11. (twi$$ 'e o'serve that the emonic tria$ spo)en of, whi$e wor$ wi e, was to affect on$&

those that we$$ !pon the earth,4 i.e . the non Christians.6 .' & ' !. Cf. ohn 1=+7, 11, 12,

' IO ' 9) 6 S' > 9 .G .

9). As the& have )ept ChristLs wor , so He wi$$ )eep them safe from the emonicassa!$ts which wi$$ affect a$$ who are not His.

* * , i.e . the wor of m& en !rance.4 The phrase L/! *13+1 , 10+12-,i.e. the en !rance practise '& the saints,4re9!ires a $i)e interpretation here. Hence the wor of m& en !rance4 is the ?ospe$ ofthe en !rance practise '& Christ.4 This is to 'e, as Hort writes, at once as an e/amp$ean as a power.4 Cf. 2 Thess. 3+6, $ h $ + (gnat. Ad 7om . /. 3,"! A . : N' $ h $.

' ! . . @n$& fo!n e$sewhere in the ;.T. in ohn 1=+16 *cf. as. 1+2=, '-, where the tho!ght is 9!ite in )eeping with that of o!r "eer+ 9 .! Y 4M

. $ > Y ' M 9B . $ '$. Here

$ '$ is the Evi$

@ne, or "atan. Hence o!r #or Ls pra&er is that His iscip$es ma& 'e e$ivere from theevi$ swa& of "atan, not that the& ma& 'e save from the ph&sica$ evi$s *inc$! ing eath-which are inevita'$& inci ent to this $ife. This gives e/act$& the o':ect of the sea$ing in=. The sea$ing provi es the spirit!a$ he$p nee e against the coming manifestation of"atanic wic)e ness $in)e with seeming$& s!preme power. "ee (((. c. in the (ntro . tovii., 6, p. 1


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this passage is aff$iction an temptation8the fitting f!nctions of the emons *o!rth ?ospe$., ! .> 9 @ . "o far as the ?ree) goes the wor s .>

9 co!$ refer to *1- ), or *2- to . 1. (n favo!r of the first it has 'een!rge that inscriptions on pi$$ars were not infre9!ent in @rienta$ architect!re. (n or er toworship a go it was necessar& to )now his name. Th!s in the magica$ pra&er ofAstramps&ch!s, 9!ote '& Reit enstein, oimandres , 2 *see Qen&on, *ree% apyri , i.117-, we fin + x O s* , F 00F


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@ . : De M . % )E . s. !t there is anearer para$$e$, as o!sset points o!t *referring to Hirschfe$ , 57 - B for it wasc!stomar& for the provincia$ priest of the imperia$ c!$t!s at the c$ose of his &ear ofoffice to erect his stat!e in the confines of the temp$e, inscri'ing on it his own name anhis fatherLs, his p$ace of 'irth an &ear of office. Possi'$& the foregoing fig!re was

chosen with reference to this c!stom in or er to set forth the ignit& of the faithf!$ as priests of ?o in the ne/t wor$ . (gnati!s, Ad hilad . vi. 1, has 'een tho!ght to refer tothe present te/t when he writes in reference to those who o not ac)now$e ge es!sChrist, 7 ., */ A , 1 O .1> X o!rth?ospe$ .

K 0/ . Cf. 21+2, 1 . @n this He'raism see note on 1+6. @ . Cf. 1


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great commercia$ an a ministrative cit&. esi es 'eing a seat of the Ci'&raticconventus , it was *1- a 'an)ing centre *th!s Cicero proposes to cash there his treas!r&

'i$$s of e/change8 Ad 9am . iii. 6, Ad Att . v. 16-, an ver& op!$entB for when it wasoverthrown '& the great earth9!a)es of 7 71 A.J . *Tac. Ann . /iv. 2=- it was noto'$ige to app$& for an imperia$ s!'si &, as was !s!a$ in the case of other cities of Asia

%inor+ cf. 3+1=, ) A , 9Q #/ "#!+ it was a$so *2- a $argeman!fact!rer of c$othing an carpets of the native '$ac) woo$, an it was $i)ewise *3-the seat of a f$o!rishing me ica$ schoo$, amongst its teachers having 'een e!/is anA$e/an er Phi$a$ethes. ;ow it can har $& 'e an acci ent that in 3+1= of o!r te/t there arethree epithets which refer to these commercia$ an inte$$ect!a$ activities,8 !# ,1 , , 8'!t in the wa& of tota$ isparagement. An that this is so is sti$$c$earer from 3+15, where, in contrast to their materia$ wea$th, their s!ccessf!$ woo$$enfactories an their famo!s me ica$ specifics, the #ao iceans are 'i en to '!& fromChrist the tr!e riches, the white garments an the e&e sa$ve for their p!r'$in vision.The Ch!rch of #ao icea was pro'a'$& fo!n e '& Epaphras of Co$ossae, Co$. 1+=, 0+12s9. The #&c!s va$$e& ha not 'een visite '& "t. Pa!$ own to the time of his firstimprisonment in Rome, Co$. 2+1. That he wrote a $etter to #ao icea is to 'e inferrefrom Co$. 0+17B '!t this $etter is $ost, !n$ess it is to 'e i entifie with that to theEphesians *see 'ncy. (ib . i. 577 s9.-. The #atin Epist$e to the #ao iceans is entire$&apocr&pha$ *see #ightfoot, "olossians , 2=


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1. >irst of a$$, with K # * / ! $ $ we sho!$ compare Co$. 1+15, 6. # *where # 8the active princip$e in creation G A/, ca!se8has the samemeaning as in o!r te/t-, an 1+16, ! ' / ! * G sovereign #or overa$$ creation '& virt!e of primogenit!re4 8#ightfoot-. (t is to 'e o'serve that! 'ears the same meaning in o!r a!thor in 1+6, ! G

sovereign #or of the ea 4 * i.e. the secon ar& meaning of ! -. (n Co$. 1+15,! . is not 9!ite para$$e$ owing to the presence of the . , which

'rings o!t the primar& meaning of !, i.e . priorit& in time.2. Iith 3+21, & ! 9% / > .$ . % E O C G ./' ,

. F $ . % E 9$, compare Co$. 3+1, A '' % h8O F 4! +'O 7 h8 . . (e $ $ . *Cf.

Eph. 2+7, , . ./ . h % N' $.- (n o!rte/t the victors are to 'e seate on ChristLs throne as He is seate on ?o Ls throne. (nCo$. 3+1, Christ is seate at the right han of ?o , an the faithf!$ are to sit with Him inheaven$& p$aces *Eph. 2+7-.

3. (n 3+1=1< the se$f comp$acenc& an se$f satisfaction of the #ao iceans, arisingin part, no o!'t, from their great materia$ wea$th an prosperit& as we$$ as theirinte$$ect!a$ a vancement, are eno!nce , an the& are e/horte to see) the tr!e richesan the tr!e wis om which comes from a vision p!rge '& the ?reat Ph&sician. Cf. Co$.1+2=, where the apost$e emphasi es in contrast to their pro! '!t 'ase$ess )now$e ge*2+5, 15, 23-, the riches of the g$or& of this m&ster& which is Christ in &o!, 4 an 2+2, 3,where he ec$ares that he strives for the Co$ossians an a$so for the Laodiceans thatthe& ma& 'e 'ro!ght !nto a$$ riches of the f!$$ ass!rance of !n erstan ing,4 even a$$the treas!res of wis om an )now$e ge hi en4 in Christ.

(t is not !nreasona'$e to conc$! e from the a'ove evi ence that o!r a!thor wasac9!ainte irect$& or in irect$& with "t. Pa!$Ls Epist$e to the Co$ossians. Possi'$& he

was ac9!ainte with "t. Pa!$Ls $ost Epist$e to the #ao iceans, an was there'&inf$!ence in his iction an tho!ght. There are no resem'$ances 'etween the ictionan tho!ght of the other si/ #etters an the Pa!$ine Epist$es8a matter worth& ofconsi eration.

15. Ihi$e the Ch!rches of Ephes!s, Pergam!m, Th&atira, an "ar is were g!i$t& ofmanifest evi$s, no s!ch evi$ is $ai to the charge of the Ch!rch of #ao icea. !t the evi$,if not manifest, was sti$$ more peri$o!s. The #ao iceans professe Christianit& an werese$f comp$acent an se$f satisfie . The& were !nconscio!s that the& were who$$&, or a$$

'!t who$$&, o!t of comm!nion with Christ *3+2 -, at a$$ events the& fe$t no nee ofrepentance. Hence the start$ing ec$aration that the a'so$!te re:ection of re$igion *3+16-were prefera'$e to the #ao icean profession of it. As a Ch!rch an as in ivi !a$s the&

we$t with comp$acenc& on what the& ha achieve *1=a-, whi$st the& were serene$&!nconscio!s of what the& 'a $eft !n one.

@1 # f8 @1 is !se with the past in . in $ate ?ree) to intro !ce animpractica'$e wish, an with the f!t. in . *?a$. 6+12- to e/press a practica'$e wish. !there as in 2 Cor. 11+1 we have @1 with the past in . to e/press a possi'i$it& tho!ghin the present sti$$ !nrea$i e . %o!$ton efines these as instances of the !nrea$4in icative. "ee $ass, *ram . 2 7 s9., 22 B %o!$ton, *ram . i. 2 .

+ . Here on$& in the #FF or the ;.T. Enth!siasm is re9!ire in the faithf!$,the& were to 'e hot to the 'oi$ing point,4 fervent in spirit * % ) +, Rom.12+11-.

16. #/ , i.e. $!)ewarm4 8here on$& in i'$ica$ ?ree).


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! . . @!r a!thor as a r!$e !ses the pres. inf. after + see note on3+2. . . This ver' is not !se e$sewhere in the ;.T. an on$& once in the #FF. There:ection of the #ao icean Ch!rch is not anno!nce as fina$ here, an the possi'i$it& ofrepentance is a mitte in 152 . The $ang!age is ver& forci'$e tho!gh home$&. The#ao iceans are not on$& eno!nce , '!t eno!nce with the !tmost a'horrence. "!ch a

en!nciation is witho!t para$$e$ in the other Epist$es. An imme iate an specia$ :! gment is not here he$ in view, '!t the fina$ :! gment.

17. This verse forms the protasis of the sentenceB the apo osis fo$$ows in 15. "eenote on 1022 a'ove. There it is pointe o!t that in 1=15 we have references to themateria$ an inte$$ect!a$ wea$th of #ao icea. @n the other han it is !rge that the$ang!age is metaphorica$, an states that the Ch!rch of #ao icea is rich in spirit!a$

possessions an has nee of nothing *cf. 1 Cor. 0+=5-. This, no o!'t, is tr!e, '!t thea$$!sion to the materia$ con itions of the cit& cannot 'e ignore .

) A , )', ( am rich, an have gotten riches.4 @!r te/t hereis a free an irect ren ering of Hos. 12+


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in the '$oo of the #am' *=+10-. @n the other han , from the ivine stan point theChristian character is a gift of ?o . (ts erivative, the spirit!a$ 'o &, is not 'estowe ti$$the faithf!$ have attaine their perfectionment. "ince the mart&rs were regar e ashaving a$rea & reache this stage, the& were c$othe in heaven$& 'o ies *7+11-, whereasfrom the rest of the faithf!$ this gift was withhe$ ti$$ the en of the wor$ , as the& were

sti$$ in a state of imperfection, even tho!gh re eeme .0 )! . This constr!ction here an in ohn 15+10 on$& in ;.T.@ccasiona$$& in the #FF. > . $ # / . Cf. (sa. 66+1, Ho, ever& one that thirsteth, come &e

to the waters, an he that hath no mone&B come &e '!& * - wine an mi$)witho!t mone& an witho!t price.4 >or the metaphorica$ !se of this ver' cf. 6+!rther, since in the present passage thisgo$ is not a materia$ '!t a spirit!a$ thing, the i ea of the te/t is that Christ gives to thetr!e see)er a spirit!a$ gift, which constit!tes the on$& tr!e riches *Co$. 1+2=-. Thisspirit!a$ gift, consisting as it oes in a new heart or spirit, 'ecomes in fe$$owship withChrist the fons et origo of the Christian character, an this in t!rn the so!rce anartificer of the spirit!a$ 'o &. Another f!nction of this new spirit in man is that iten ows him with spirit!a$ vision *3+15c-. (nterprete th!s, the D an the) are no separate an in epen ent gifts, '!t gifts that are s!'si iar& to orrather springing o!t of the chief gift8the # / ! . 8 i.e. the newheart.

D . "ee the prece ing noteB a$so the note at 'eginning of verse, an on3+6.

1!: K A #)' * ' . "ee 17+16, note. >or the iction,cf. E e). 17+37, 1 K A #)' * -+ a$so 23+2


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fre9!entissimis co$$&riis4+ vii. =. 0. "ee Ietstein for f!rther references, from which ma& 'e 9!ote the fo$$owing+ Ia:i)ra R. 167a + Ner'a $egis corona s!nt capitis, tor9!esco$$o, co$$&ri!m oc!$is.4 .# . Here on$& in the ;.T. an on$& fo!r times in the#FF.

The app$ication of the e&e sa$ve in o!r te/t res!$ts in spirit!a$ vision. There'& the

#ao iceans can get ri of their se$f eception, an so gain tr!e se$f )now$e ge, antherewith a )now$e ge of the riches of the g$or& of this m&ster&, which is Christ in&o!, the hope of g$or&4 *Co$. 1+2=-, in whom are a$$ the treas!res of wis om an)now$e ge hi en4 *Co$. 2+3-. (n the note on ! . a'ove ( have ta)enthe spirit!a$ gift s&m'o$i e '& ) as a gift springing o!t of the chief gifts&m'o$i e '& # / 8 . , as not as a separate an in epen ent gift. @nthe other han , the ) in o!r te/t has 'een ta)en '& some interpreters to meanthe wor of ?o *or of prophec& as oppose to the #aw-, or en$ightening power or. * ohn 17+5 s99.- of the Ho$& "pirit *so JSster iec) an "wete-.

1920. The severit& of the re'!)e :!st a ministere is a sign of ChristLs $ove whichs!mmons to repentance an a'i ing earnestness first the Ch!rch as a who$e *1


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mention of it carries with it not even the faintest a$$!sion to the great persec!tion whichwas e/pecte '& the "eer in 9 $. Cf. ohn 10+23, 9 . , > 9% ' 8 >or A # ofentering into a manLs ho!se, cf. %ar) 16+03.s S&riac. %hilo6enian Eersion, edited & ohn =w&nn, 1 4.


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Documents

A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St John CHAPTER 2-3